Thread: The Golden Compass

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

There was too much unnecessary hype around it.

Utterly agree. They did it for money, not for art, and it shows.

Narnia was blindingly obvious. And I'm an atheist.

How a christian missed any of it is kinda mind boggling.

What??? Unlike most Christians (and some people altogether), I don't try to look for someting religious in everything I see. So if I don't look for it, I don't see it.

Oi, can the bashing of people who happened to not care about the religiousness in Narnia stop already? That movie as a whole is not important to discuss for any significant length.

Well if the main controversy doesn't start til the 2nd or 3rd film [which hasn't even been approved yet I see], then I don't get why in the hell people are being so utterly stupid about it.

I'm a Christian and I plan on seeing is ASAP.

-shrugs- Oh well.

I think in the first movie though, it's not really shape shifters, it's more animal guides that represent the people.

I heard they changed around ALOT of stuff in the first movie because of controversy. So it says on wiki anyways.

-patience

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Oi, can the bashing of people who happened to not care about the religiousness in Narnia stop already? That movie as a whole is not important to discuss for any significant length.

I wa reffering to the books.. I haven't seen the movie.

However now I consider it, I'm assuming everyone on here has only really seen the movie and didn't even know about the books.

The books are very good.



It is relevant and important; because Philip Pullman when writing His Dark Materials compared it to Narnia in an atheistic sense.

Originally Posted by PatienceMarie

So it says on wiki anyways.

One day Wikipedia will simply tell us that we all belong to the Wikipedian dictatorship.

And we will follow.

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

I was referring to the books.. I haven't seen the movie.

However now I consider it, I'm assuming everyone on here has only really seen the movie and didn't even know about the books.

The books are very good.

I do know about the books. I have since middle school. I've never gotten a chance to read them, but now that I have time, I'm going to go buy them.

I'm referring to both the books and the movie, even if I haven't read the books. I don't care about the religiousness or non-religiousness in either of the book series and movies. Maybe, just maybe, I was more focused on the story itself, rather than the message the author wanted to point out.

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

It is relevant and important; because Philip Pullman when writing His Dark Materials compared it to Narnia in an atheistic sense.

That must have been on YouTube, in the back of The Golden Compass (Subtle Knife, and/or Amber Spyglass), in a newspaper, or apart of some religious debate or something, cause I've never heard the man compare it to Narnia.

And, just to be on the safe side, don't believe everything you read on Wikipedia and other sites like it. If anyone can edit, then more than likely the info is wrong...

Originally Posted by Snowy Egypt

Nope. Should I have seen it??? Or is everyone just making a big deal about it???

No, I would have thought it is quite obvious. Azlan the Lion can be compared to Jesus; how he died to save everyone else.

Originally Posted by Snowy Egypt

I don't care about the religiousness or non-religiousness in either of the book series and movies. Maybe, just maybe, I was more focused on the story itself, rather than the message the author wanted to point out.

That's how I am about most books/movies. I'm just a laid back person and couldn't give a rat's ass about religious messages this, writer making a statement that...

Some of you should try that some time.

The movie wasn't all that great. The events weren't really connected all that well and a lot of stuff seemed pretty random. I think my friend put it best when he said it looked like they cut out a ton of stuff. Which seems likely.

Seemed like a great idea, but the follow through kind of sucked. I mean its not horrible but I would wait untill its on tv or tape. I never read the book, but I am sure its probably better. Theres potential there, and it seemed like they rushed through it. My guess would be the book goes into a lot more detail, and is thus a lot better.

*applauds*

Third film (supposing they do it) should rock. Or I'll be angry.

Originally Posted by Siиdяed

One day Wikipedia will simply tell us that we all belong to the Wikipedian dictatorship.

And we will follow.

Yes indeed...... one day.... one day.....

-patience

I think we've hi-jacked yet another Golden Compass thread.

Well done.

Originally Posted by Snowy Egypt

That must have been on YouTube, in the back of The Golden Compass (Subtle Knife, and/or Amber Spyglass), in a newspaper, or apart of some religious debate or something, cause I've never heard the man compare it to Narnia.

And, just to be on the safe side, don't believe everything you read on Wikipedia and other sites like it. If anyone can edit, then more than likely the info is wrong...

You're probably right. Either way he has lots of easier to find quotes where he criticises the religious symbology of Narnia:



Observer article: Holy war looms over Disney's Narnia epic —

It's not the presence of Christian doctrine I object to so much as the absence of Christian virtue. The highest virtue, we have on the authority of the New Testament itself, is love, and yet you find not a trace of that in the books. [The Narnia books contain] a peevish blend of racist, misogynistic and reactionary prejudice; but of love, of Christian charity, [there is] not a trace.





"[T]here is no doubt in my mind that (Narnia) is one of the most ugly and poisonous things I've ever read."- Philip Pullman in an article he wrote for the Guardian [English Newspaper] entitled "The Dark Side Of Narnia

"I think Lewis was a remarkable man. But when it came to the Narnia books, I think he was actually dangerous because those books celebrate death. As an end-of-term treat the children are killed: that to me is disgusting." -Philip Pullman in a Daily Telegraph Feature

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

That's how I am about most books/movies. I'm just a laid back person and couldn't give a rat's ass about religious messages this, writer making a statement that...

Some of you should try that some time.

Thats both lazy and missing out on half the experience.

Agreed. There's nothing wrong with enjoying films, books, paintings, whatever for the sheer entertainment, but there is a whole other side of meaning, analogy, symbolism and so on that is just so beautiful in another way that it's a shame to miss it.

People!!! How can I miss it if I don't see it?!?!?!?!?! Seriously!!!!!

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

"I think Lewis was a remarkable man. But when it came to the Narnia books, I think he was actually dangerous because those books celebrate death. As an end-of-term treat the children are killed: that to me is disgusting." -Philip Pullman in a Daily Telegraph Feature

I didn't read his book but from the review it sounded like in the book, when people die they go to hell to rot and suffer forever. Luckly the heros of the book travel to hell and they create an opening to the abyss which destroys your very soul. So the people are free from hell to finally end their life and die forever. Which if true, doesn't exactly sound all that nice.

In Narnia there is heaven where everyone finally lives in peace. Regardless of which you actually believe is true, I would think most people would enjoy reading the second.

Yeah, C.S. Lewis basically set out to write a bible for childeren with his Narnia series... I used to love those books, and when I last read them I certainly didn't pick the religious meaning, but this was because a) I was too young and b) I didn't have much of a christian education as a kid.

I read Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy a fair few years ago, and when I heard there was a movie coming out I re-read the first book. I picked up on a bit of the symbolism when I read the book as a kid, but re-reading it much later, and after studying philosophy at university, I must say that Pullman has put a lot of thought into his novels.

There are a lot of philosophical ideas in there, the most obvious one being the 'possible worlds' theories. This is a tool of analytical philosophy that uses the idea of 'possible worlds' that are similar to this one or different in ways, mainly as a way of determining logical a priori truths. Also, the 'dust' seems to me to be inspired by neutrino particles, which are particles that travel through space and pass through matter continuously.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Pullman had read a lot of Nietzche.

Yeah, he clearly a very intelligent man who has put thought into his work. Alric, don't just read, reviews read the books!

Been talking to people, most of those who read the book hated the film, most of the those who hadn't read the book enjoyed the film. Hmm.

That's because movies can never be better than the book. When you put it on screen, people have short attention spans so you have to omit a whole lotta shit.

I'd disagree. I prefered the Lord of the Rings on film than on books, as I think Tolkien's strength was his creativity and strength of story rather than actual wiriting style, and the film carries of the creativity and strength of story while adding an artistic style that Tolkien lacked.

As a writer I felt Tolkien diverged far too much in the Lord of the Rings books, bits seemed muddled and dull sections were dragged on too far, and there was little flair or panache in his prose.

That said - Silmarillion is excellent, the Hobbit beautiful and the recently published Children of Hurin wonderful.